Improvement in lightning-aeeestee foe tetegeaphs



w.. H. HALL.

' Lightning Arres'ter.

No. 70,203. Patented Oct. 29, 1867.

zww

d: in i r mtnh ram aunt ffxre.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-ARRESTER FOR TELEGRAPHS.

olgc Stlgrhnlr marsh in in flgrst litters %lntrnt nit making part atllge 5mm.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HALL, of the city of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters for Telegraphic Purposes; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure Iis a top or planview.

Figure 2, a top view of the ground-plate.

Figure 3, a cross-section at red line a: y, and

Figure 4, a section on red line 21 10, showing post.

Like letters refer to the same parts in all of the figures.

The nature and objects of my invention consist in constructing alightning-arrester so that there will be a non-conducting platesupporting small connecting plates, one or more, brought near to theground-plate without any non-conducting substance between then]; inmaking such non-conducting plate adjustable by means of slides and setor thumb-screws; in providing non-conducting stops or supports betweenthe plates A and B; in surrounding the small connecting plates with anon-conducting support or plate, and in the several combinationshereinafter set forth and claimed.

I-Ieretofore only very imperfect arresters have been used, and paper hasbeen placed between the connectingplate and the ground-plate, so thatwhenever lightning entered on the conducting-wire, holes were burnedthrough, so that the machinery would fail to operate until itwaschanged, and so that constant care was required to keep it in order.With inexperienced operators this was a frequent source of diflieultyand vexatious delays. All of these difiiculties, and the imperfectionsof the old arresters, are overcome by my device.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention andimproved arrester, I will describe its construction and operation.

The length of the plates A and B will depend upon the number of wires tobe connected with the arrestcr, as any number can be used, there beingno limit in that respect. The drawing shows four, and for this number Imake the ground-plate A about ten inches in length. It is made about twoinches in width. At either or at each end are inserted, by screwing orotherwise, the posts G, into which theground-wires are inserted at e,and fastened by the thumb-screws '5. Into the ground-plate I insert fouror more non-conducting supports, a, which project upwards aboutone-sixteenth of an inch, more orless, and usually the non-conductingplate B rests upon these supports. It will beobvious that thesesupports, a, may be attached to the plate B. I also attach to the plat-0A two or more supporting post-s, E, which project upwards about threeinches. These posts are provided.v

with collars or slides, D, which slide easily upon them, and are attheir lower ends connected with and attached to the non-conducting plateB, and are provided with thumb-screws b, so that by their use I canraise or lower the plate 13, and adjust the distance between it and theground-plate, as may be required. The non-conducting plate B is providedwith one or more circular or other shaped plates, G, for connecting thewires and making the circuit continuous. Into each of these plates areinserted two posts, F, which are made in the usual manner, and fprovidcdwith thumb-screws b to fasten the wires at c. It will be apparent thatthis connection can be made with one post, but I prefer the use of twofor each, for the reason that by the employment of two I insure thedescent of the current of electricity into and across theconneoting-plate G, thereby making the operation of this plate with theground-plate certain. The connecting-plates or disks G are made of thesame thickness as the plate B, so as to pass entirely through itandapproach near the ground-plate A. The form and size of thenon-conducting plate 13 are sufficiently shown in the drawings, and,with'the supports a, :may be made of any good non-conducting substancesuitable for that purpose, but I prefer gutta percha, ebony, or otherhard wood.

In operationthe batteries and conducting wires are connected to theposts F at a, and secured by the thumb-screws and the ground-wiresconnected to the posts 0, and the non-conducting plate B at rest on thesupports a or adjusted upon the posts or standards E, so'that inordinary use or in fair weather no effect is pro= duced, but wheneveratmospheric electricity passes upon the wires, or any unusual quantityof electricity, in passing the plate or disk G, it passes over orthrough it, and this plate being so adjusted with reference to theground-plate that only a certain quantity can pass without being takenby the ground-plate, all excess will pass from G to A, and from thenceto the ground, so that the machinery and the batteries are perfectlyprotected, and the operator can continue his labors during a severethunder-storm with safety and accuracy.

Having thus fully described my improved arrester, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- v 1. Supporting theconnecting-plate G over the ground-plate A, without any non-conductingsubstance between them, by-means of the plate B, substantially asspecified.

2. Connecting the plate B to the ground-plate A adjnstably by means ofthe posts E and slides D, substantially as and for the purposesspecified. I

3. The non-conducting plate 13, when surrounding and supporting theconnecting-plates or disks G, substantially as specified and shown.

4. The non-conducting supports a, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

5. The combination of the ground-plate A and posts E with thenon-conducting plate B, non-conducting supports a, and collars or slidesD, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the ground-plate'A, posts 0, and standards E, withthe plate B, connecting-plate G, post or posts F, and slides or collarsD, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM H. HALL.

Witnesses: I

L. L. BOND, I E. A. WEST.

